Jury To Visit Scene Where Inkster Cop Gave Driver A Bloody Beating

INKSTER (WWJ/AP) - Jurors in the trial of a Detroit-area police officer who punched a driver 16 times are visiting the scene of the bloody beating.

Wayne County Judge Vonda Evans plans to take jurors on a field trip Tuesday to Inkster. Closing arguments in the case against William Melendez are scheduled for Wednesday.

Melendez, who punched Floyd Dent in the head during a traffic stop last January, is charged with assault and misconduct in office.

[VIDEO: Inkster Police Dashcam Violent Arrest Of Floyd Dent]

The incident was recorded by a police dashcam, but the video wasn't publicly known until WDIV-TV aired it in March. Melendez was fired, and Inkster agreed to pay $1.4 million to Dent.

Melendez, who is known by the nickname "Robocop", has denied any wrongdoing. His attorney says the punches were justified because Dent was resisting police.

Police had claimed Dent refused to stop and had cocaine in the car; although Dent claimed police planted the drugs. Cocaine possession and resisting an officer charges were dismissed against Dent.

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